Besides Pan’s Labyrinth, what is good?
he made hellboy 1 and 2 which were silly
and he even produces bad films like the orphanage
He has been disappointing since his high point, which was “The Devil’s Backbone”.
I completely disagree about The Orphanage being a bad film
his Spanish-language films are the best, the rest i can take them or leave them, just silly blockbusters, only one of them enjoyable being Hellboy.
cronos was his high point in my mind
like i said im just stating the facts….ha but in my opinion Pans Labyrinth alone is enough to put him above both Cuaron and Von Trier who have also been mentioned on this site
My cat is a better filmmaker than Von Trier.
uuummm, Pan’s more than Cuaron and Von Trier??? i’d say all of them being equal, unless we were speaking of 90’s Von Trier, muahahaha.
Cronos was great, as was Devil’s Backbone. Pan’s Labyrinth was alright, if anything it had a wonderful look to it and the whole narrative approach was interesting, but it lacked something (I’m not sure what it is, I’ll have to watch it again). Hellboy series was alright as well. Not terrible, but not very memorable. My mind wandered a lot during the second one because there wasn’t really anything that held my interest in the film.
For me, he has a very unique vision that he pursues unflinchingly (I can’t wait for the Hobbit film to come out by the way, I think del Toro was a good alternate choice to Jackson), but in a way he’s like a more talented version of Robert Rodriguez – very involved in all parts of the filmmaking process (except we could switch Rodriguez’s penchant for music with del Toro’s penchant for special fx/makeup/set design), and they’re ideas seem to be completely unhindered by studios (for the most part), but also with that comes the feeling that they rush their films out before they’ve been polished enough. I don’t think del Toro would rank as director of the decade either, but he’s certainly one to watch – I’m still waiting for his masterpiece. :P
EDIT: In comparison to Von Trier … hmm, I don’t know. I certainly prefer certain of Von Trier’s work over del Toro’s, but that’s more of a preference than an unbiased opinion. I just like Von Trier’s subjects better, but on technical terms, they seem to be about the same – both above-average filmmakers, but not yet great.
haha well thats just me. Maybe Pans + Devils Backbone + Hellboy = Cuaron + Von Trier
but….. Breaking the Waves > Guillermo Del Toro ;)
To me Pans was his masterpiece, def watch it again Deckard. But your comparison to Rodrieguez was spot on
“but in a way he’s like a more talented version of Robert Rodriguez”
Deckard, you nailed it ;)
he will never create a “masterpiece” unless it’s in Spanish..
I would actually agree if you add the word “insignificant” to the title.
“Maybe Pans + Devils Backbone + Hellboy”
remove Hellboy, make some directing cuts to Pan’s and come back later ;)
^ Yeah, perhaps that was what it was with Pan’s for me: the editing. There did seem to be some cinematic fodder, plus del Toro tends to incorporate really unnecessary scenes of sentimentality (or “over-sentimentality” rather) in pretty much all of his films which tends to grate on my nerves a little bit, but that’s my own little preference.
Dimitris what exactly didnt you like reguarding the directing/editing for Pans Labyrinth?
and Deckard you’re entitled to your preferences, no matter how insignificant they are ;) jk
what Deckard mentioned about over-sentimentality which is a long-repetitive engine to attract the audience thus i admire it mostly as a popcorn movie due to all the Hollywood resemblance of Spanish Civil-War approach but not the insulting style of recent Hollywood films e.g. Flags of our Fathers or Saving Private Ryan speaking of wars…
if i start counting these elements though as negatives, it will just become another simplicity like Titanic.
But those elements you speak dont distract you from the story, like they do in Flags and Saving Ryans Privates. I love Pans Labyrinth as it is and I wouldnt ask for any changes :)
“But those elements you speak dont distract you from the story”
which is why i do like it as a popcorn movie :)
That’s true. Just to clarify though, I didn’t mean to compare del Toro’s work with Spielberg or Eastwood (god forbid) – it’s not that extreme, but yeah, for me, it oftentimes is distracting. Anyway, to each their own.
Guillermo del Toro may be better than Cuaron and von Trier but once again, that’s a stretch isn’t it?
Yes, to each their own. But I have a feeling that we all are anticipationg The Hobbit ;)
Robley im comparing their 2000s body of work so I dont think its that much of a stretch
PAN’S LABYRINTH and THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE are easily 2 of my decade favorites, so I can understand your recommendation of Del Toro as director of the decade, Sekzee. However, he tends to confuse me, for however much I think those are beautiful films, and even kind of profound to me (it helps that the Spanish Civil War is one of my favorite historical subjects, and I love his grim fairy-tale approach to the subject), I can’t stand Hellboy and his Hollywood output. So I remain on the fence, but definitely look forward to what he might do in the future…
I mean a stretch to call him best of the decade. Think of all the crazy Asian directors that popped up!
And I will admit that the normal teenager side of me can’t wait to see The Hobbit. :)
haha it comes down to the fact that I havent seen any Hou Hsiao-hsien or much of any recent asian films. so im going based on what Ive seen
RT – i think you should step over the fence and join me and Del Toro ;)
Most definitely anticipating THE HOBBIT, Sekzee.
I’m so glad he’s directing it and not Jackson. The post-LOTR/King Kong Jackson is way, way too computer and CGI-obsessed and probably a little spoiled and lazy now. Del Toro at least retains a great love for latex, models, buckets of blood and gooey stuff, and other wonderful practical special effects, augmented by CGI- the way it should be. That bodes well for the the many fantastical creatures of The Hobbit.
Pan’s Labyrinth is one of the worse film’s I’ve seen.
*worst
^ could you at least try and explain why? though im not even sure if that comment can be explained…
Patapon
Im just stating the facts people
;)
Seriously though I love his films. His vision speaks to me personally more than any director working today (with the exception of maybe Wong Kar Wai)